Oil Usage Thoughts-2 gal/day Long Island-how am I doing?

Hey Gang-

So I began this season using my old Vermont Casting 0044 wood stove that came with the house when I bought it--nice, but old and in need of gaskets cleaning etc-not the end of the world -but one fan is SHOT and squeaks like HECK!

So i invested and bought a pellet stove centrally located for better heat.

Since then I am OVERJOYED in the heat in my home . Big open floor house,bad insulation, vaulted high-ceilings- bad for keeping heat in.

Using 1 1/2 to 2 gal per day for house of 4 people for hot water/heat in the apartment(2 of the 4 people) since the pellet arrived
I think I am basically OFF oil for winter seasons going forward-am I correct?
SO- thoughts and advice, ideas,any and all replies appreciated.

Any reduction in oil usage is a WIN WIN WIN! Doing great keep up the good work!

Well, the obvious test is whether than reduction in oil usage will cover your pellet cost. If it does, you win!

Well, you've got a stove, you're happy with and it does a decent job. The next step is obvious---insulate your house. That should make a big difference.

Tom C.

I was hoping to get off of Electric/LP heat completely but is not going to happen. My house has 9 rooms and 4 baths and the MT Vernon stove will not heat it all. Generally speaking, my wife and I only use the 3 rooms that are in the back of the house (family room, kitchen & master bedroom). The stove will heat those rooms just fine so when we are not using the other rooms, which is most of the time, the heater it set to off and we use pellets to heat the house. If we have visitors and we have to use the other rooms in the house, we turn on the heat. That being said, we use very little Electric/LP these days and I think the stove's return on investment will be around 3 years or less. That is not bad!

Like most of us, They probably are keeping the temps warmer for more comfort. That has to be worth something? Ideally you would like to see a savings so you can use it to justify the stove purchase. Otherwise its basically a wash with a kicker of extra warmth.

Breaking even and not freezing your can off, falls onto the "W" column... But it's always nice to win the double header $$$$$$

Any reduction, is a good thing, but for the better return (ROI). Get an electric water heater, or an on-demand unit. Will cost some now, but pay dividends down the road.

I haven't burned LP in about 5 yrs for heat. We still use it to cook. But Nov of last yr, was 3 yrs since my last tank fill, and I still have about 35%-40%. Used to use 3-4 tanks a year to heat this joint. Now I use 1 tank every 4 yrs (or so).

Wife wants an electric range, to rid us of LP all together. But I am a fire bug, and I think electric stoves suck. (Sorry to those who have them, but I feel they cook uneven and to fast)

There is some new technology in some of the high end electrics that really improve the performance. Our new smooth top is awesome with both the top burners and the convection type oven. The controls have come a long way too. It has a fancy name for the tops technology, Maybe another member can help this CRS riddin ol coot! Inductive something or other?

Well.... I Fukin jinxed myself. The Oven through a code tonight!! Looks like we will be oven shopping soon

I will give the electric a look, especially if it's not like the one my parents had growing up. I burned everything with that old stove. Even water

[quote="DexterDay, post: 1386903, member: 16089"

I will give the electric a look, especially if it's not like the one my parents had growing up. I burned everything with that old stove. Even water[/quote]

First - do what the nice firemen tell you, don't leave the stove unattended

Prefer my electric stove better than natural gas (which we can't get). But when the power goes out, and that's more often than most as we are on the longest distribution run in Ontario, I'm a big fan of the propane BBQ...

Thanks for the many genuine and helpful replies! nice to hear the input from my friends and peers